Who is James Winter's Father?


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Who is James Winter's Father?

An Essay by Andrew Winter

James Winter (1736-1826) was the first Winter to immigrate to Newfoundland according to the Keith Matthews Collection (1) <#N_1_> in 1750 and live there for most of his life until his return to Stokingtenhead (2) <#N_2_> , Devon, England where he died in 1826 (3) <#N_3_>.

James Winter (1736-1826) had at least two sons who where born, lived and died in St. John's, Newfoundland. George Winter (1772-1859) and John Winter (1776-1834). Both these men had sons named James (4) <#N_4_> as confirmed in James Winter's will "Also I give bequeath unto each of my grandchildren James son of my said son George, and James son of my son John, the sum of ten pounds." George had other sons, so it is unclear why his father James specifically named the two children of his two sons. Fortunately for us he did and so we know that there were two James Winters, grandsons of James Winter (1736-1826).

John Winter (1776-1834) and Susanna Todridge where married in 1800 (5) <#N_5_> . The couple had the following issue in birth order: Elizabeth, Susanna, Ann and James Winter. These names have been gleaned from the Birth, Deaths and Marriages in Newfoundland Newspapers by Gertrude Crosbie. The record of their marriage was found in the Anglican Church records in handwritten scripted dated 1800 and signed by a Rev. John Harriet.

In 1817 John Winter (1776-1834) was declared insolvent (6) <#N_6_> and by 1818 all his property was auctioned off in St. John's. John had done poorly in business and was in debt to many. Including his own father and brother George. James in November of 1817 "sued John for a sum of 200 pounds, 1 years annuity due by John to his father on 20 Nov 1815 (7) <#N_7_> " his brother George acted as attorney for James Winter (1736-1826). James Winter won and John was forced to place his property up for auction.

Sometime during this period John's first wife Susanna died and the widower John Winter (1776-1834) married (8) <#N_8_> Anne Rennell (1802-1857) they had the following issue in birth order: Mary Anne and John Rennell Winter. In total John Winter (1776-1834) had issue of six children, four daughters and two sons. The son John Rennell Winter went to England (9) <#N_9_> and no record of him returning has been found. The other son James Winter moved and lived in Lamaline on the Burin Peninsula as a H M Customs officer.

It is speculation that John Winter (1776-1834) married Anne Rennell for her social position and her money, since he was broke and her father was a doctor and a man of means in the City of St. John's at that time. John's family name was well known and respected, and although his financial matters may have been in tatters, this may have only been considered a small set-back, since many merchants where exposed to losses which occurred by the sinking or pirating of a ship at sea. Such where the perils in these times and family pedigree was often the only door of escape from total ruin.

In another twist of fate John Winter's (1776-1834) third daughter Ann Winter (1802-1857) married (10) <#N_10_> James Marmaduke Winter (1808-1863). This James, James Marmaduke Winter (1808-1863) was the other James that his grandfather James Winter (1736-1826) named in his will and he was the son of George Winter (1772-1859). The evidence of his parentage is in fact located in George Winter's will, in it is written "I do hereby nominate sons George Winter, John Winter, James Marmaduke Winter and Frederick Winter, Sons in Law John Francis Trimmingham, John Murch Brine, John William Saunders and Ernest Augustus Sall executors of will." (11) <#N_11_>

James Marmaduke Winter and Ann Winter lived in Fogo. Where James worked as H M Customs. They had six children, five daughters and one son. The only son was also named James Marmaduke, but sadly all but Harriet Louisa and Jessie Susanna died and were buried in Fogo. James Marmaduke's only son died (12) <#N_12_> at the age of nineteen.

Within the last four years of James Marmaduke's life, he left Fogo and moved to Harbour Breton to take up the positions of HM Customs and Strip Magistrate. One can only suspect that James Marmaduke Winter (1808-1863) was a broken hearted man, who had lost his wife and four of his children, including his only son. He then moved to be near his brother, when he died (13) <#N_13_> in 1863.

James Winter (1807-1886)(14) <#N_14_> who lived in Lamaline married (15) <#N_15_> Harriet Pitman (1817-1859) and they had six sons and two daughters. James Spearman, Thomas, John, Henry Pitman, Harriet Ann (Hattie), Elizabeth, Marmaduke George, Frederick Malcolm. Of whom my side of the family comes from Marmaduke George Winter (1857-1936).

During my research, I came up with an interesting article by James Winter of Lamaline. In 1863 James Winter (1807-1886) gave a lecture on the decline of the fisheries and what the lecturer considers to be the chief causes of that decline.(16) <#N_16_> In his lecture, James talks specifically of Lamaline and St. Pierre. In his speech he gives three reasons for the decline in the cod stocks and troubles in the fishery in Newfoundland. 1) foreign over fishing. 2) over fishing of the caplin stocks, the main food of cod. 3) the use of (bultow) a form of long-liner which destroyed the ocean habitat. (I presume a modern day precursor to the dragger).

Conclusion

It would seem only logical to me that during the early 1800's both families wanted to be able to distinguish who each of the James's where. Therefore they called one James Winter (1807-1886), who was the son of John Winter (1776-1834) and the other James Marmaduke Winter (1808-1863) who was the son of George Winter (1772-1859). Thus using the middle name to distinguish them one from another. After all they where first cousins and approximately of the same age.

Because both birth records are lost (most records between 1800-1810 are missing), we can only calculate approximate birth year by the stated age and year of death. Furthermore, none of the records that I have seen have James Winter (1807-1886) using a middle name or initial. However, in every case that I have seen of James Marmaduke Winter (1808-1863), I have found that both names have been used. Thus, I believe a clear distinction was being made.

It is also very curious to me that James Winter is giving lectures the same year in St. John's and describing Lamaline. The one lecturing must obviously not be the same man who died because of his descriptions of Lamaline. After all James Marmaduke was in Fogo and then he went to his brother's Dr. John Winter in Harbour Breton. Both John Winter and James Marmaduke Winter are named specifically as sons in George Winter's probate will as I have stated previously.

Another evidence which also points to James Winter as not being the son of George Winter is evidenced by the witnesses of his marriage to Harriet Pitman. They where married in St. John's but the witnesses where a Mr. William Earle 15 (17) <#N_17_> and a Mr. E.S. Moore. For all of George Winter's children he was a witness to their weddings, but not to James Winter and Harriet Pitman in 1844 why? Unless, he was not his son, after all George was at Dr. John Winter's wedding and also James Marmaduke Winter's wedding to Ann Winter. But not James Winter's marriage to Harriet Pitman, very curious indeed.

Given all the circumstantial historical evidence, I have concluded that this is the correct fraternal linage for the decedents of James Winter (1736-1826) to myself. I have attempted to provide references to every source of my information, which may be checked.

  • James Winter (1736-1826)
  • John Winter (1776-1834)
  • James Winter (1807-1886)
  • Marmaduke George (1857-1936)
  • Herbert Marmaduke Winter (1889-1930)
  • E. H. Winter
  • A. L. Winter.

Sources

1. Keith Matthews Collection, Winter, James W-40f
2. There are a number of spelling variations such as Stokeington, Stoke-in-Teignhead, etc.
3. Mercury Journal 17 Aug 1826
4. Will of James Winter, 1822
5. Parishioners List 1863 Box 6 of Cathedral of St John the Baptist and Lamaline District
6. Gazette Tuesday December 23, 1817
7. Colonial Records - Keith Matthews name files John Winter
8. Vital Statistics Volume 26E Marriages at the Cathedral 1754-1836 Aug 14, 1830
9. Keith Matthews Collection -Winter, John, July 1829 Newfoundlander
10. James M. Winter, Fogo married Ann Winter 3rd Daughter of John Winter at Quidi Vidi by Rev Bridge. Oct 3/1835 Royal Gazette
11. Registry of Wills, Registrar's Office Volume 2 A-10-5 Supreme Court of NF & Lab. George Winter, Vol 2 page 354.
12. Winter, James Marmaduke only son of James M. Winter sub col. customs at Fogo he died on Feb 18th Aged 19, April 13 1858 Royal Gazette
13. Funeral from his brother's Dr. Winter: James Marmaduke, Esq Aged 55 Stipendiary Magistrate and Sub Collector of H.M.C. at Harbour Breton Died the 18th. (23 June 1863) Royal Gazette
14. Forest Road Anglican Cemetery Records Vault 1886 entry James Winter 16 March 78 years Died 16th Military Road plot 17# 16p - Grave marker appears as 1801, but this (1) one could have been mistaken for a (7) seven. 1807 makes him 78 in 1886 which makes proper sense.
15. Vital Statistics Vol 26D 1836-1891 - Feb 15, 1844 Winter, James Esq bachelor H.M. Customs by T.J.H. Bridge of St. John's to Pitman, Harriet spinster witnesses Moore, E.S. & William Earle.
16. By James Winter, Esq of Her Majesty's Customs. Delivered at the Fishermen's Hall on 14th February 1863. SH/225/W39 NFLD 2 Held by Center for Newfoundland Studies at MUN
17. William Earle was a common stand-in for witnessing marriages during this time. His name appears numerous times in the records.